D-backs designate Herrmann, select De La Rosa to roster

The Arizona Diamondbacks continued shaping their Opening Day roster on Sunday by designating catcher Chris Herrmann for assignment and selecting the minor league contract of reliever Jorge De La Rosa.

The moves leave 32 players in camp with two spring games remaining before the Thursday regular season opener against the Colorado Rockies.

With Herrmann designated, Arizona still has three catchers remaining on the roster: Alex Avila, Jeff Mathis and John Ryan Murphy.

Manager Torey Lovullo has said he prefers to have three catchers on his roster.

Herrmann hit .300 in spring by recording nine hits and eight RBI in 30 at-bats. Despite his ability to play in the outfield, it appears the D-backs are looking at new options for their third catcher after Herrmann struggled by batting .181 over 106 games played in 2017.

The catcher saw his best season come a year prior, when he hit .284 with 42 hits in just 56 games played.

The 36-year-old De La Rosa has now parlayed a second minor league contract with the D-backs into a regular season deal. In 2017, the left-handed veteran traded in his starting pitching duties for a relief role that saw him post a 4.21 ERA in 65 games played.

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